Charlie Daniels on NFL Protests: ‘I Will Not Stand by and See America Insulted’

Charlie Daniels understands that NFL protesters have a right to take a knee during the National Anthem, but he doesn't understand why they chose that venue and that song. It's insulting to America and American servicemen and women, he says.

Speaking to the nationally syndicated Big D & Bubba radio show, Daniels tells of talking to military veterans who are insulted by the weekly police brutality protests taking place at the start of football games. It's the wrong venue.

"You take a bunch of guys who make … a million dollars a year that can’t find something good about this country to celebrate when they’re playing the National Anthem? I don’t understand it," Daniels says. "People say they have a right to do it, I know they have a right to do it. They also got a right to do a lot of things they never would dream of doing."

These Country Singers Share Charlie's Opinion

Daniels is a season ticket holder for the Tennessee Titans, a team that remained in the locker room during the Sept. 24 mass protests in response to President Donald Trump's comments that players who take a knee or do anything else to disrespect the flag should be fired. The Country Music Hall of Famer says he doesn't want to see anything but football happening for the price he pays for those tickets.

“I love the Titans, but I love America more, and I will not stand by and see America insulted and belittled," he says.

Those who follow Daniels closely on social media or read his blog may be well aware of his stance on the issue. He tells Big D & Bubba that he can recall listening to casualty lists on the radio during World War II. He would have been a young boy then, but recalls hearing about the lives that were lost and boats that were sunk almost daily. He's hopeful the loud resistance to this form of protest will put a stop to it and thinks the NFL will change its stance if enough people protest back.

“It’s all about the money,” he says. “As soon as it starts hitting their bottom line in a big enough way you’ll see a big change. You’ll see a policy changes. You’ll see something done about this.”

Daniels is releasing a new memoir called Never Look at Empty Seats on Oct. 24.